Regardless of your age, a slip-and-fall accident in a public place can be embarrassing. While it may be tempting to jump up quickly and move on with your day, you must closely monitor yourself for signs of injury. A nosebleed may be an indicator of a potentially life-threatening one.
Most nosebleeds occur because of hot or dry air. While these nosebleeds are normal and do not require medical treatment, a trauma-related nosebleed is a medical emergency.
Did you hit your head?
Traumatic brain injuries are common in slip-and-fall accidents. These injuries occur when the head either collides with an object or moves back and forward quickly. In addition to causing potential brain damage, a fall may rupture blood vessels in your nose. A nosebleed may also be evidence of a broken nose or skull fracture.
Do you have a serious nosebleed?
Even if you did not hit your head during your fall, you should not ignore nosebleeds. While your nosebleed may be a minor inconvenience, it may also put your life in danger. This is especially true if your nosebleed has any of the following characteristics:
- It lasts 20 minutes or longer
- It results in excessive blood loss
- It happens more than once per day
Do you need assistance?
There is no downside to seeking a medical examination for any nosebleed. Following a slip-and-fall accident, you may want to go to the emergency room for a full evaluation. If you have excessive blood loss, though, you may need someone to drive you there. That is, because blood loss can lead to loss of consciousness, driving may not be safe.
Ultimately, because it can be impossible to differentiate between an ordinary nosebleed and a potentially life-altering one, calling 911 after a slip-and-fall accident may be wise.
